Holland Chorale and Holland Area Arts Council Invite Kids to Sing!
Holland, Michigan, November 2008. Area children and youth are invited to participate in a unique singing experience offered through a collaboration of the Holland Chorale and the Holland Area Arts Council (HAAC). Two choirs, a Children’s Choir (2nd though 6th grade) and a Youth Choir (9th through 12th grade) will be offered to children interested in vocal training and exposure to various types of choir music. Homeschooled children may especially benefit from the opportunity to study and perform great choral music at a sophisticated level.
The Holland Area Children’s Choir is directed by Jean Poppen, experienced music instructor with the Holland Public Schools. Students wishing to participate in this choir must have a recommendation from a school or church music teacher verifying that they can match pitches. The singing sessions will be offered Tuesdays 4:30 – 6 p.m., January 6 through February 17, 2009 (7 weeks). The registration fee for this HAAC program is $45.
The newly created Holland Area Youth Choir will be directed by well-known Hope College conductor Dr. Brad Richmond. According to Dr. Richmond, “I envision the Youth Choir to compliment, not replace, the choral opportunities our kids already have in high school settings. As with any start-up enterprise, we will be careful to moderate our expectations the first time out, but I want to assure you that we will work hard and together endeavor to make some real art.” Interested students should contact Dr. Richmond at Richmond@hope.edu to arrange a pre-enrollment screening. The singing sessions will take place Fridays 4:30 – 6 p.m., January 16 through March 13, 2009 and will end with a concert/recital. The registration fee for this HAAC program is $55.
Members of the Holland Area Arts Council and current and former Chorale Kids will receive a 20% discount for choir signup. More information about the Choirs can be found at www.hollandarts.org or www.hollandchorale.org.
The Children’s and Youth Choirs are a wonderful means for the Holland Chorale to address one of its organization missions. The Holland Chorale recognizes that choral music exists only when future generations are invited to participate. To this end, the Holland Chorale also sponsors the Holland Chorale Kids, an auditioned song and dance troupe of twelve children ages 6 – 12. These children receive extensive singing and performance training and perform with the adults in their Christmas performance in December and Tulip Time performance in May. In addition, through its High School Student Study/Performance Training Program, the Holland Chorale places up to four high school Senior singers from West Ottawa, Holland, Hamilton, Holland Christian, Black River, and Saugatuck High Schools in the Holland Chorale every year at no cost to the students.
The Holland Chorale, a nonprofit organization, is a labor of love for area auditioned singers who volunteer their time to the group. Participating in the Holland Chorale gives singers the opportunity to showcase their talents and to entertain and uplift members of the community who attend performances. The Holland Chorale often performs in collaboration with other area musical groups such as the Hope College Choir, the Holland Symphony Orchestra, and area secondary schools. In addition to its main choir, the Holland Chorale offers three additional musical experiences: ShowTime (an ensemble of 12 singers offering Broadway-type music), Class Act (an all-women’s group), and Dickens Quartets (holiday singers). These smaller ensembles entertain our community in a more intimate fashion and promote awareness of the Holland Chorale, choral singing, and the arts as a whole.
For additional information about the Holland Chorale, please contact Julia Johnson or Sylvie Lepird at 616-494-0256 or sylvie.lepird@yahoo.com.
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